Delta documentary will be shown after Hollywood's 'Chinatown'

Sunday

Apr 14, 2013 at 12:01 AM

Truth meets fiction - and vice versa - in Stockton today.

Tony Sauro

Truth meets fiction - and vice versa - in Stockton today.

"Over Troubled Waters," a documentary film about the San Joaquin Delta's history and possible fate as one of California's most vital natural faucets, will be shown and discussed at Stockton's Bob Hope Theatre.

That's after "Chinatown," a 1974 Hollywood movie based on early 20th century "water wars" in Southern California, which dramatizes the issue of water rights as part of Friends of the Fox's film series.

It's a timely and clever pairing.

"It's an absolutely great idea," said Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, campaign director for Restore the Delta, a Stockton group that was instrumental in the documentary's creation. " 'Chinatown' is a fictional account of how water is misused and leads to power and corruption. We're just folks trying to expose the factual part of these stories."

"Over Troubled Waters" has helped spread those tales more widely since its release on Aug. 20, 2012, at Stockton's Empire Theatre.

"Chinatown," a 131-minute movie directed by Roman Polanski - with a cast led by Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway - was nominated for 11 Academy Awards.

"Over Troubled Waters," a 45-minute film that cost $250,000 to produce, is narrated by actor and environmentalist Ed Begley Jr. It's been shown at eight film festivals with a cast consisting mostly of Delta residents who want to protect the region's 1,000 miles of waterways.

"The reaction has been wonderful," said Barrigan-Parrilla, 50. "No matter where it plays, people are kind of aghast at some things and kind of laugh at some others. The response is that it's universally accepted as being true."

"Over Troubled Waters," categorized as a documentary "short," has "done phenomenally well," Barrigan-Parrilla said, winning at the Nevada Film Festival and during a televised Northern California competition in February. It also was a finalist at festivals in San Diego, Nevada City, Sausalito and Los Angeles.

"It's been shown a dozen times in Southern California," she said. "Down there, they do understand. They do not want to pay for a project that won't bring them water."

Stockton's Russell Fisher (Media Creations), a St. Mary's High School graduate who grew up enjoying the Delta's recreational options, produced the film - which took three years to complete - and "best friend" Jason Sturgis, who's moved his Open Ocean Productions from Reno to Vancouver, was the cinematographer.

"It's really a script that looks at the history of bad water decisions in the Delta for the last 40 years," Barrigan-Parrilla said. "And brought the story up to date."

Directors of Fresno-based Westlands and Los Angeles' Metropolitan water districts are interviewed to "give it some balance," Fisher said.

Restore the Delta, formed in 2006, is working diligently and aggressively to oppose a state proposal that would cut through San Joaquin County with an aqueduct for delivering fresh water to other parts of California. An 18,000-page environmental impact report (EIR) will be released in "late May," she said, followed by a public-comment period.

The power and profits of water - flowing to Southern California from the Delta or east from the Colorado River - have been contentiously and bitterly sought since the era portrayed in the fractious "Chinatown."

In 1982, a similar project also supported by Jerry Brown - the first time he was California's governor (1975-83) - was rejected by voters.

"Either we've gone back in time or things are still just with us," said Rogene Reynolds, 63, a Roberts Island resident who opposed the 31-year-old "peripheral-canal" plan and takes part in a question-and-answer session on Sunday.

"Anyone who hasn't seen the documentary, I think that's important. It gives a 21st-century view. The movie's just for fun. I can't wait to see 'Chinatown.' I understand it's a real good murder mystery."

In seven years, Restore the Delta's membership has grown from 10 to "over 10,000," factoring in social media, newsletter readers and "other coalitions like Twitter, sail mail and a wide variety of things cobbled together," Barrigan-Parrilla said.

By her estimate, 15,000 people have seen the documentary in a variety of venues. A $20 DVD version can be purchased at overtroubledwaters.org.

"We don't do this for a living," said Barrigan-Parrilla, who's busy raising her and husband Jesus' 10-year-old daughter, Kate. "We work with people to tell them just what really happened. We're happily surprised we've done as well as we have. The movie is really beautiful and the Delta is a beautiful place."